(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Comprehensive plan" means the master plan of a local government adopted pursuant to section 30-28-106 or 31-23-206, C.R.S., or an amendment to such plan. (b) "Comprehensive planning dispute" means a dispute between two or more local governments regarding a comprehensive plan. (c) "County" means a home rule or statutory county. (c.5) "Development plan" means a mutually binding and enforceable development plan established pursuant to section 29-20-105 (2), C.R.S., by intergovernmental agreement between the county or counties in which land to be annexed is located and a municipality or between any two or more municipalities located within such county or counties. (d) "Landowner" means any owner of record of state, municipal, or private land and includes an owner of any easement, right-of-way, or estate in the land. (e) "Local government" means a municipality or a county. (f) "Mediation" means an intervention in comprehensive planning dispute negotiations by a trained neutral third party with the purpose of assisting the local governments in reaching their own solution to the dispute. (g) "Municipality" means a home rule or statutory city, town, territorial charter city, or city and county. (h) "Neighboring jurisdiction" means the following: (I) For a county, any adjacent county and any municipality that is wholly or partially located within the boundaries of the county or within three miles of any boundary of the county; and (II) For a municipality, each county within which the municipality is wholly or partially located and any county or municipality that is located within three miles of any boundary of the municipality. (2) (a) Each local government shall provide to each neighboring jurisdiction written notice of the public hearings at which the comprehensive plan of the local government is to be considered and a copy of the proposed comprehensive plan. Such neighboring jurisdiction may review the comprehensive plan and submit comments to the local government prior to the first hearing on such plan by the local government. (b) A neighboring jurisdiction may file a written objection to a comprehensive plan with a local government at any time up to and including thirty days after the adoption of such plan. Such objection may include a request for the local government to participate in a mediation of the comprehensive planning dispute with the neighboring jurisdiction coordinated by the department through the office using a mediator from the list maintained pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. Such local government shall participate in the mediation upon the request of the neighboring jurisdiction. (c) If a neighboring jurisdiction has more than one objection to a comprehensive plan, all such objections shall be considered together in the mediation conducted pursuant to this subsection (2). A neighboring jurisdiction requesting such dispute resolution or mediation process shall pay for the costs of the mediator's services. (2.3) (a) The parties to an intergovernmental agreement establishing a development plan shall provide notice and a copy of the agreement, together with a map demonstrating the territory covered by the agreement, to each neighboring jurisdiction. (b) Each municipality that has received a petition for annexation filed pursuant to section 31-12-107, C.R.S., which annexation covers territory included within the boundaries encompassed within a development plan to which the municipality is not a party, and that has received notice and a copy of the plan in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.3) shall provide to the parties to the development plan written notice of the petition for annexation, as well as a copy of the petition, prior to the referral of the petition by the municipal clerk to the governing body of the municipality pursuant to section 31-12-107 (1)(f), C.R.S. Where any portion of the area to be annexed under the petition is located within the boundaries of a development plan, each neighboring jurisdiction that is a party to such plan may file with the governing body of the annexing municipality a written objection to the petition no later than thirty days after receipt of the petition in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph (b). In the written objection filed, the neighboring jurisdiction may additionally request that the annexing municipality participate in a mediation of the dispute arising out of the petition with the assistance of a qualified professional from the list of such professionals maintained by the department pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. Upon the request of any neighboring jurisdiction that is a party to the development plan, the annexing municipality shall participate in the mediation required by this paragraph (b). (c) No petition for annexation shall be referred by a municipal clerk to the governing body of the municipality for any action pursuant to section 31-12-107 (1)(f), C.R.S., until: (I) The mediation required by paragraph (b) of this subsection (2.3) is completed; or (II) Not less than ninety days have passed from the date on which the municipality in receipt of the petition for annexation was notified of a request to mediate by a neighboring jurisdiction pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (2.3). (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the costs of obtaining the assistance of a qualified professional in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection (2.3) shall be assumed by the neighboring jurisdiction requesting the mediation. Where more than one neighboring jurisdiction requests the mediation, the costs of obtaining the assistance of a qualified professional shall be allocated pro rata between or among all such jurisdictions. (3) In the alternative to a mediation conducted pursuant to this section, the parties to the dispute may use an existing intergovernmental agreement or a new agreement to resolve the disputes in whatever manner the local governments determine. (4) In conducting a mediation pursuant to this section, the mediator shall consider information provided by any landowner in the land area that is subject to the dispute and may consider such other information as is presented by other interested persons. (5) Any agreement or understanding reached between two or more local governments in the course of conducting a mediation in accordance with subsection (2) of this section shall not be binding in the event that such governments are ultimately unsuccessful in resolving their comprehensive planning or development plan dispute. (6) To fulfill its role in coordinating a mediated solution to disputes between and among local governments, the department shall maintain a list of qualified professionals that are available to assist in resolving land use disputes arising between local governments. Such list shall include only those persons and organizations the department determines have professional expertise and skills in land use, planning, zoning, subdivision, annexation, real estate, public administration, mediation, arbitration, or related disciplines. Such list shall be made available to governmental entities and the public through the office created by this part 32 for the purpose of facilitating the resolution of disputes between or among local governments arising out of land use matters.
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